If you know the right way to care for cats, they can be great pets. If you own a cat, you need to educate yourself about tips and information to make sure your cat lives happily. You can find the information that you need to know in this article.

Prevent your cats from playing with drapery cords. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops. This could cause injury or death. Make sure drapery cords are kept back to avoid this.

TIP! Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Many shelters have more cats than they can handle and the fees associated with adoption take care of vet visits.

When your female cat is old enough, you should have her spayed. It is best to spay your cat, even if you want to keep it as an indoor pet. Unless you want the hassle of getting rid of kittens, spaying is the best option for your cat.

Think about putting a microchip in your pet. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. A collar with tags increases your chances of getting your cat back if it gets lost but it can also be a risk, for instance if it gets snagged in some branches. Microchips are very small, and you can note your name, address and phone number in there. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.

Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. Passing such crystals is a painful experience for your cat, and your wallet isn’t going to enjoy the vet bill. Look for foods that are low in magnesium for your cat. Always read labels. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.

Cat Medicine

You can often find better deals for cat medicine online rather than buying them from the veterinarian. In an emergency, this won’t be much help, of course. If you are buying cat medicine often, you can usually save up to 50% online.

If you’re thinking about raising an outdoor cat, you should strongly reconsider. There are many dangers to your cat outside. Cats can attract fleas and other parasites. There is the possibility they may get injured by another animal, even people and cars too. Cage in an area for a cat in your backyard if they must go outside.

TIP! Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive.

Be careful when leaving your cat with your children. This is especially true if your child is less than five years old. Kids of this age aren’t old enough to know how dangerous a cat can be. As they grow, you will be able to decide when it is the right time for them to handle a cat or kitten without supervision.

Acclimate your cat to its carrier. Understand that cats don’t react to punishment as well as dogs. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. Cats are natural explorers and sooner or later he will check it out. Transporting the carrier with your cat inside makes your next trip out much easier.

If you offer a variety of foods to your cat, it will be less picky about what it eats. If you feed them the same cat food every day, they may not accept anything else. This makes it difficult to find food they’ll eat when a store runs out of a certain brand, or you are traveling.

TIP! There needs to be set boundaries with your children and a new kitty. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into.

Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Cats shed a lot, so it is important to brush them often. If your cat is shedding a lot, you should brush them more frequently. This will make your cat’s coat nice and smooth.

Litter Box

Pay attention if your cat won’t use their litter box. Using the bathroom outside of the litter box is linked to a number of cat health issues. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. Contact your veterinarian if your pet abandons its litter box.

TIP! Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. Although you may feel like you don’t need help, other owners may be able to give you good advice.

Move the litter box if your cat won’t use it. Cats know that they’re vulnerable when using the bathroom and need a place that is quiet and safe. A basement, laundry room, or another area that doesn’t experience much household traffic is the ideal spot for the litter box.

Some food you eat isn’t good to feed your cat. These can include chocolate, grapes, onions and tomatoes. If your cat eats these, it may cause him to get really sick or even worse. Even though everyone knows that cats love milk, this can actually cause a cat to have an upset stomach.

Cats have a keen sense of smell, which makes it simple for them to feel out changes in their environment. This can sometimes cause difficulties when you buy a new scratching post, cat bed or food dish. Don’t worry if the cat isn’t happy with the items when you first bring them home. As your cat starts to smell new things in the home, it will get into them sooner or later.

TIP! Be sure to brush or comb your cat’s fur on a regular basis. This helps spread out the cat’s natural oils in their fur and stimulates blood flow in the skin.

Cats are enchanting animals, but you need to understand how to care for them. Use what you learned here for a happy and healthy cat. With the proper care, your cat can enjoy a great life.